Milking timer system



Feb. 1s, 1947. H, B. BBSQN- 2,416,139

MILKING TIMER SYSTEM Feb. 18, 1947. H. B. BABsoN MILKING TIMER SYSTEM 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 8, 1945 Patented Feb. 18, 1947 NT :OFFICEMILKING TIMER SYSTEM Henry B. Babson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to BabsonBros. Co., a corporation of Illinois Application Janary s, 1945, serialNo. 571,821

7 Claims. (Cl. 161-'-7) This invention relates to a milking timersystem, and more particularly to a dairy installation wherein there is arow of stalls, as two or more stalls, and a milking timing arrangementoperated by a single power` source but capable of individual timingadjustment at each'stall.

One feature of this invention is that it greatly improves the speed andconvenience of milking a herd of cows; another feature is that itenables the cow to be vmilked in such manner as to impose the leaststrain on her, both physically and mentally; yet another feature is that`the timing system is of a character particularly suitable for theconditions found in the average dairy barn, where there are particles ofstraw and dirt in the air, where the temperature may drop below freezingin the winter, etc.; still another feature of this invention is that thetiming interval may be individually adjusted for the cow in a givenstall very quickly and easily, merely by the length of pull exerted on aflexible element such `as a strap or rope hanging in a convenientposition, an act which does not require any fine adjustment and whichcan even be done conveniently with mittens on; a further feature of thisinvention is that the timing arrangement provides an indication of thetermination of the desired milking period; yet a further feature of thisinvention is that the system is adapted automatically to shut off thevacuum to the milking machine at or about the time of giving of theindication; and still a further feature is that the timing system can beconveniently vadjusted through a wide range, as from a minute and a halfto five minutes milking period. Other features and advantages of thisinvention will be apparent from the following specification and thedrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a portion of a row of stallsprovided with a preferred embodiment of my invention; Figure 2 is aview, partly in section, along the line 2--2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is-anenlarged View of the timervsystem shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a frontelevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure approximately a givenrange of time.

3; Figure 5 isa view, partly in section, along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;Figure 6 is a View, partly in section, along the line 5 6 of Figure 3;Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a stall equipped with a milkingtiming system comprising another embodiment of my invention; Figure 8 isan end `In dairies, particularly fof the ,better grade,

practically all milking is now done by milking machines; and in theinterest of efficient utilization of a mans time during milking, one mangenerally handles from two tofour milking machines. Under-milking ofcourse, not only results in reduced milk output, but is also detri-vmental to the cow in that there is an undesir- 'able residual carry-overin the udder.. Overmilking, on the other hand, is also very undesirable.One of the factors in such regard is that floor-type milking machines',if left operating after the udder has :been emptied creep up above thetop of the teat, pulling part of the loose or slack udder down into theshell, with attendant pinching and actual physical injury. Moreover, theapplication of continued mechancial squeezing, and of vacuum, to theteat for a substantial period after that quarter of the udder is emptiedcan and sometimes does cause other physical harm. Moreover, goodproducing cows of the kind now found in better dairies have a highlydeveloped nervous system, so that undesirable nervous reactions takeplace, detrimental to the milk output, if the cow is not milked in themost efficient and comfortable manner.

It has been found that the majority of the cows in a given herd,particularly where they are all of a given breed, can be trained to milkout in Even there, however, there are cows which vary substantially fromthe average infthe optimum milking time; and there are always cows whichmilk out very quickly, as newly freshened heifers, and cows which mustbe given asubstantially longer time than the average, as very highproducing cows or cows with udder or teat deformities, for eX- ample. Ithas been found that the mental and physical Well-being of the cow andher milk output are greatly improved if she can be trained to milk outin the fastest time of which she is capable, which of course varies.

Some efforts have heretofore been made to provide milking timers, as forexample that shown in Gengler Patent 2,351,675, which may be referred tofor further discussion of the advantages of timed milking, if desired.The timer shown in that patent, however, and other timer efforts knownto me, have never gone into Acommercial use because of their failure torecognize and solve certain problems incident to successful'milkingtiming in a dairy barn or lmilking parlor. l, ,v

One of the most serious diliiculties in former timing efforts has beenthe flack of provision for individual timing of each cow. Another defecthas been in failing to recognize the kind of temfperature, humidity, anddust conditions, and the like; encountered in a barn. Still anotherdefect in such former timing arrangements has been their inability toprovide for proper timing where ing.

" a single man handles rtwo or three milkers, as is always the case inan efficient dairying operation.y I have Irecognised .these and otherdefects .and i objections to former milking timing systems, and Vhavedevised and am here disclosing and claiming apparatus which overcomessuch objections and which provides for satisfactory milking timcourse,that the ystrap would bei oiusufcient Referring `I irst; rto the specicembodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures -:1-6,- `in :'lusive,A

. l two of a row of stalls in a dairy barn are illus- ;v trated, thesestalls being defined bythe partitions I0, ll and l2 of pipe or otherconventional construction Extending along the'back of Vthe row .ofstalls, in conventional manner, is a vacuum pipe line i3 Vprovided withapurality of stall cocks, as the cock It. While any conventionalmounting. arrangement may be used, the

pipe line is yhere shown `as. supported from/.av

wooden plank l5 in turn mounted upon the vwall of the barn. Extendingalong the row of stalls above the pipeline i3, and also carried by themounting Vmember i5, is'a rotatable shaft iE, this t vshaft beingjournalled at appropriate intervals .in bearings here shown asvcomprising wooden timed rate.. as for example one revolution per minute(by a conventional synchronous motor driving .the shaft throughreduction gears, this arrangement not being shown) and ,this shaftYprovides the source of power for controlling Aand ,operating the`timing arrangements individually .associated with each stall. Inasrnuchas vthe arrangement in connection with each stall du-` Vlplicates thatin connection with other stalls,

only one such arrangementwill be described in detaiLreference being `nowhadmore .particularly to Figures 3-6, inclusive.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft l5 is a -ro.

tatable' member :or pulley drum `|73 Yhaving `one end lavof a flexibleelementor strap' :IS rigidly fastened thereon 4so that rotation of themember One side ofthe `pulley member I8 -(the left-hand side f l8-is`adapted towrap the strap thereon.

as viewed'in Figures4- and 6) provides one `elemounted on and rotatablewith the shaft l5. A .spring Zl'flying between the other side -of thepulley member and aV collar -22 4rigidly attached to the sha-ft Iiiurges the pulley member toward Ythe vdisk member 20 to provide thedesiredfrictional driving .engagement This frictional en` gagementshould besuioient toipull upthe strap and operate the indicating andshut-off Aarrangements to be `subsequently described, but not so .greatas te prevent convenient slipping of the 4clutch connection by merelyreaching up and When a givenl `timing arrangement is inoperative thestrap pulling down on'the strap I9.

clutch arrangement)'untilthe lower end of the` strap has been pulleddown to adistance determining the desired time interval. ,Referring.more particularly Jto Figure 4 it willbe seen that the strap is markedwith graduations indicating {1/2` minute, 1 minute, 11/2 minutes, 2minutes, etc.;`

M .bearing blocks, as the bearing arrangement il; This shaft is rotatedjin a lcarefully controlled` -ment :cfa friction Yclutch drivearrangement, the

other element being the disk member 2Q rigidly with an indicatinggraduation 23 ,on a housing or covermember 24. It ,will ,be understood,of

length to be wrapped aroundtlie drum portion of the pulley member i8five or six times in fully wrapped up condition,l where time periods upto yfive minutes are to be provided in connection with a powershaftrotatingat one revolution per minute. I y

The stall cock i4 has a rotatable Vcontrol valve varrangement ofconventional type, this being here shown as adapted to be actuated by anactuating arm or member 25 having a forked end portion 2511. When thisactuating arm is in the Aposition shown in solid `lines in Figure 5 thevalve is in the open position and vacuum is applied to a milker hosewhich might y'be slipped overthe connector'nipple end of the stall cock.On the other hand when 'the actuating arm is moved to the .positionshown in dotted lines, as shot/irVV in Figure, the valve is closed andthere is vno communication between the milker hose and the vacuum lineI3. Within theY housing Zd is a gong 26 and an associated spring mountedstrikerr arrangement comprising a spring arm 2id and a clapper orstriker portion 2lb. The housing '2li is appropriately slotted, as'maybehest seen in Figures 5 and 6, to permit movement ofthe projectingportions of the arms 25 and 21de `In milking in a dairy installationincluding timing arrangements of the kinddeecribed, the dairy man wouldplace thejmilkerin operative relation to the cow, slip the vacuum hoseon the connector end of the stall cock, pull the vstrap rdown to thedesired time interval (as indicated by the graduation 23 and acooperating graduation on the strap), andthen move the valve actuatingkarm 25 from the dotted line position as shown in Figure 5 to the solidline position as shown there. If a 21/2 minute milking period had beenfound "bestV for the particular cow then being milked, it will beunderstood that the strap would have been pulled down until the 21/2minute `graduation vhad been opposite Ythe graduation 23. The parts areshown in Figures 3 and 4 in the position in which they Ywould be whenthere was one minute of milking period. yet to go; and they are shown inFigures 5 and 6 in the position where they would be whenfthe milkingperiod is about to be terminated. It will be noted that the strap i9 isprovidedA with an opening leb, a fairly long slot liic therebelow, and across rod iiid at the bottom end thereof. As the strap continues to moveup it rubs along the `outwardly projecting end of thespring arm Ela .(asmay be best seen in Figure 5) until the Vopening i9?) is reached,whereupon the end of the` arm 25d drops into this opening and the arm is`moved upwardly (against its spring tension) to the position shown inFigure 'byslight further movement ofthe strap. When theposition shown inFigure 5 is reached the cross rody f ld has just engaged under the endsof'Y the forked portion 25a, and the strap .is about to cause of freedomof movement permitted by the slot i) .drop down rapidly to causethestriker element .2lb to hit fthe top of `the gong 25 'and give anaudible indication that the desired pre'- determined milking period isover. If lthe man 'is immediately there and the indicationthus'p'rovided calls his attention to that stall, he immediately reachesin and manually moves the valve shut-ofi arm 25 to its upper or closedposition. If he is not conveniently at hand but is else- Where in thebarn, continued upward movementl tion. While I can arrange matters vsothat the automatic shut-off and audible indication take place almostsimultaneously, I prefer to have 'the' automatic shut-off action takeplace very slightly after the audible indication is given, but not morethan one minute thereafter, and have illustrated my device as arrangedin lthat manner. Where a suspended milker of the kind shown in McCornackPatent 1,859,213 is used, or where the claw of a claw-type milker hasbeen heavily weighted, loss of vacuum in the milker through seepagebetween the teats and iniiations, and the member i8. In v this casethevgraduations for one minute, two minutes, three minutes, etc. are

drop off the teats if the cow has not received attention within areasonable period after the indication is given. rangement of a kindwhich is practical and usable in a dairy barn, which is individuallyadjustable for each cow through practicallyl any desired range, andwhich automatically provides for relieving the cow if the operator doesnot give proper attention when the milking terminating indication isheard. The phrase milking terminating means as used in this applicationrefers to a means or mechanism of procuring, either directly orindirectly, the cessation of milking after the expiration of the desiredmilkingtime.

Where the protective automatic operation provided by the previouslydescribed embodiment of my invention is not desired, a somewhatsimplified apparatus comprising another embodiment of my invention maybe used, this embodiment being illustrated in Figures 7-11, to whichreference will now be had. In order to simplify and shorten thedescription of this embodiment oi my invention, reference numerals willbe applied to corresponding parts such that the reference numerals are Bhigher than those used in describing corresponding parts in theembodiment illustratedin Figures 1-6, so that it will be understood themore full description given in the earlier portion of the specificationmay be reviewed to supplement the briefer description of the embodimentillustrated in Figures 7-l1.

The power source for all the timing arrangements, the rotatable shaft46, in this case extends along and is carried by the front posts of therow of stalls, as those providing part of the partitions 4| and d2.Rotatably mounted on the shaft 46 is a pulley member 48 of fairly largediameter, as 6 inches or more, this rotatable member 48 being adapted tobe driven through a slip clutch driving arrangement provided by itsassociation with the disk member 50 rigidly mounted on the shaft 4t, thedesired irictional pressure being provided by the spring 5I. The pulleymember is provided near one edge with a groove adapted to have aflexible element 49, here shown as a rope, wrapped therein. In thisarrangementl I prefer to rotate the shaft at a much slower rate, as oncein each five minutes, and to provide the fullrange of desired adjustmentby a single rotation of the The result is a timing armarkeddirectly' ona drum surface of the rotatable member 48 and cooperate with anindicating armV or pointer 53 fixedly carried by .one of l the`partition ure 9. f

In this particular embodiment of my invention posts, as may be best seenin Figthe `desired indication is provided visually by' changing thecondition of illumination of a lamp 5l through movement of contacts in aswitch unit 52 having a movable button portion 62a.

rope 49 will rotate the pulleymember 68 counter- V clockwise (slippingthe clutch) to the desired position predeterminingthe timing interval;Thereafter the pulley member it will be rotatedy clockwise by the actionof the drive shaft 46 until it reaches the position shown in Figure 10,where the engagement of the stop rod d8a with thebutton 62a Will effectchange of illumination of the lamp 8l and stopping of the rotatablemember liti,v the clutch thereafter slipping. have thecircuitconnections `to the lamp so arranged that the lamp 6l will beilluminated when the' button 62d is pushed inwardiy in the switch unit,so that lighting of the lamp indicates termination of the milkingperiod; but it will be understood that the opposite change of.illumination may be used' equally well. The embodiment of my inventionjust described provides no automatic follow-up action if the indicationdoes not secure the attention of the operator, but is somewhat simplerin construction and, since it can be mounted at the front end of eachstall, morel convenient t0 operate. y y

I also contemplate an arrangement which provides an automatic shut-offby thev use of a timing arrangement generally similar to that justdescribed above, either with or without associated indicating means, alspecic embodiment of my invention in this regard, without indicatingmeans, being illustrated in Figure 12. In describing this embodimentreference numerals 60 higher than those used in connection with theembodiment iirst described heretofore will be ap-` plied tocorresponding parts.

In this embodiment of my invention arotatable member or pulley 'memberI8 carries a rope or other flexible element 'F9 and is rotatably mountedupon a timing and power shaft I6, which may rotate once in fiverminutes. As in the arrangementy illustrated in Figures 7-11, a slipclutch drive connection is provided between the shaft 'it and therotatable member I8; and a stop rod 18a effects the desired operation atthe conclusion of the predetermined milking interval or period. rockerarm 94 is centrally pivoted and supported in any desired manner, as by abracket QS ex- Referring more l. preferY to In this embodiment of myinvention a a cock of the kind illustratedin Figures 1-6. In any event,Athe last halfinch'vor'so of travel of the stop rod 18e: operates throughthe vrocker arm 'i :and pull rod automatically to shutoff the vacuumVconnection to the rnilker'and thus terminatetlie milking period; v

While I have shownand described. :eitainem-V bodiments of my invention,it is to be understood that. `it is .capable of many modifications.Changes, therefore, in ther construction and arrangement be maderwithout departing from in the appended claims.

I claim: l

.f 1. In a dairy installation wherein there isa row of stalls, a milkingtiming arrangement includingz' power. source means comprisingV arotatable sha-it extending along saidrow oistalls;

means for rotating said power `means .sha-ft at ann-accuratelycontrolled. rate; rotatable .means Yassociated with'each'stall; afriction clutch connectionbetween the powermeans shaft and eachrotatable means; indicating means associated with each rotatable' m ans;rmeans for manually rotating each rotatable in a direction op- -positetol that in wl it is urged by the friction clutch connection untiltheamount of rotation is "such that a desired time interval is indicatedby the indicating means; and normally inoperative iy indicating meansoperatively associated with each rotatable .means to be actuated therebyto providean indication at the end of a predetermined milking period. Y

'2. In` a dairy installation wherein-there is la row of stalls, amilking timing arrangement includin'g:v power source means comprising arotatable shaft extending .along said row of. stalls;

means for rotating said power means an accurately controlled rate;rotatable means associated with each stall; a friction clutchconnectionbetween the power means shaft and each rotatable means;normally inoperative indicating means associated with each rotatablemeans; means for manually rotating each rotatable f means in a directionopposite to that in which it is lurged by the friction clutch connectionuntil the amount .of rotation is such that a desired time interval isindicated by the indicating means; and power shut-off means operativelyassociatedV with each rotatable means to be actuated thereby at the endof a predetermined milk ing period.

3; In a milking installation wherein there is a source of vacuum powerVadapted to have a Vmillier connected thereto, a milking timing ar-` ArangementV including: valve means for controlling the vacuum connectionto the milker; timing `means including rotatable means adapted to berotated at a predetermined rate, the rotatable meansbeing operativelyassociated with.

the valve means for moving it to closed position at a desired timeinterval after milking has been initiated; and normally inoperativeindicating means f operatively associated with the timing means to beactuated thereby within one minute of the end of the desired timeinterval. l

4. In a milking installation wherein there is a `source of. vacuum poweradapted to have a milker connected thereto, a milking timing arrangementincluding: valve means for controlling the vacuum connection to themilker; timing means including .rotatable means adapted to be rotated ata predeterminedrate and a flexible element thespirit and scopeoiztheinvention as disclosed A .rangement includi, ling the'vacuum co Y[ingimeans including `rotatable means adapted to` moved thereby, theflexible element being operay tively associated with the valve means formoving it; to. closed position at a desired time interval laftermilk-ing has been'y initiated; andindicating means operativelyassociated with the exible element to be actuated thereby within one`:minute of the end of` the desiredtime interval.

v5. In -a milking'installation wherein there is a source ofyacuu l eradapted to have a milker connected elio-l ya milking timing Varalvemeans for controlection to the milker; timbe rotated at a predeterminedrate, a friction vclutch drive for said rotatable means, and aflexiblezelement adapted to be wrapped around the rotatable means andmoved thereby, the flexible elementy being operatively associated 'withthe valve; means :for moving it to lclosed position at a `desired timeinterval after milking has been initiated; andv indicating meansoperatively assoelated with the dexilole .element to be actuated therebywithin one minute of the end of the de- Y `sired time interval.

6. In a milking installation wherein there is a j source oi vacuum poweradapted to have a milker `connected thereto, a milkingV timingarrangement including: valve kmeans for controlling the vacuumconnection to the milker; timing means 1. In a milking installationwherein there isA a source of vacuum power adapted to have a Vmilkerconnected thereto, a milking. timing arrangement including: powershut-oi means for controlling the vacuum power supply to the milker;timing means including rotatable means adapted to be rotated at apredetermined rate, a friction clutch drive for said rotatable means,

and a iiexi-ble element adapted to be wrapped around the rotatablemeansY and moved thereby, the flexible element being operativelyassociated with the shut-od means for shutting off the power supply tothe milker at a desired time interval after milking has been initiated;and normally inoperative indicating means operatively associated withthe exible element Ato be actuated thereby within a predetermined briefperiod of the end of the desired time interval. HENRY B. BABSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,266 Gikow Jan. 12, 1937'2.253 752 `Bemis Aug. 26, 1941 2,257,291 Bemis Sept. 30, 1941 2,351,675Gengler June 20, 1944 2,204,532y Erbguth et al June 11, 1940 2,360,321Griswold Oct 17, 1944 1,652,845

VVennum 1 Dec. 13, 1927

